Cat hit with 7-inch blowgun dart in Washington City

A blowgun dart is seen on an X-ray image at a veterinary clinic in Southern Utah, Jan. 9, 2019 | Photo courtesy of Carrie Colvin, St. George News

WASHINGTON CITY — Police and families in Washington City are working to find the person responsible for impaling a cat with a 7-inch dart Wednesday afternoon.

A blowgun dart that was removed from a cat in Washington City, Utah, Jan. 9, 2019 | Photo courtesy of Carrie Colvin, St. George News

“It’s scary. I’m really worried about our neighborhood,” said Carrie Colvin, the owner of the black cat named “Pepper” who came home with the blowgun dart sticking out of its side.

Colvin, whose family lives just south of the Virgin River on Sandia Road in Washington City, said the cat was only let out of the house for around 20 minutes when the incident occurred.

After her son let the cat out at about 3:40 p.m. Wednesday, Colvin’s daughter returned home from school at about 4:05 p.m. and noticed something protruding from the cat.

“She didn’t know what it was,” Colvin told St. George News. “When she tried removing it, it wouldn’t budge.”

Colvin’s son recognized its distinct features as a blowgun dart, at which point the family rushed the cat to the veterinarian.

X-rays came back showing a 7-inch dart near the animal’s spine that had entered between its shoulder blades. The veterinarian could feel the tip of the dart under the skin where it was lodged on the other end of the cat.

A cat recovers after being hit by a blowgun dart in Washington City, Utah, Jan. 9, 2019 | Photo courtesy of Carrie Colvin, St. George News

A surgical procedure was performed on the cat in order to pull out the dart.

“Fortunately, it didn’t hit the spine, the lungs, the ribcage or any other organs,” Colvin said.

“We’re very fortunate that our cat’s going to be OK,” she said, “but I believe the intention of the person who did it was to kill the animal.”

After such a disturbing incident, Colvin took to social media and shared photos of the dart and X-rays on various groups on Facebook. It wasn’t long after posting before she received a message from a neighbor who lives only three streets away describing a similar dart found in their backyard.

“My wife found the same type of blow dart in our backyard about two to three weeks ago,” the neighbor, Chad Smith, said. “We were pretty sure someone was trying to hit our dogs.”

A blowgun dart found in the backyard of a family in Washington City, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Chad Smith, St. George News

About a week later, Smith said his wife saw someone in the backyard apparently returning to retrieve the dart, but whoever it was got scared off by their dogs and jumped the fence before his wife could get a glimpse of the person’s face.

The Colvins reported the incident involving their cat to the Washington City Police Department, and an officer was sent to their home Wednesday evening to investigate.

“We haven’t identified any suspects at this time,” Washington City Police Lt. Jason Williams told St. George News Thursday morning. “We’re still canvassing that area and talking with people that might know who’s been in the area and if they’ve got a blowgun to propel these darts.”

Williams said the department takes incidents of animal cruelty seriously and whoever is responsible for injuring the cat could face animal cruelty charges.

“It’s unfortunate and tragic that these animals, whether stray or domesticated, become targets for people,” he said. “Seeing them suffer, it’s pretty disturbing.”

Dogs belonging to the Smith family, who found a blowgun dart in their backyard in Washington City, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Chad Smith, St. George News

Both Colvin and Smith said this incident has made them wary of letting their animals outside without supervision.

“It was very scary for us,” Colvin said. “We felt like we can’t trust animals being out now because you never know.”

She said she hopes sharing the information with police and on social media will prompt someone’s recognition of the blowgun or person responsible.

Police are likewise asking the public to share any information they may have about this or other incidents involving blowgun darts.

“We would welcome any information,” Williams said, explaining that people can call Washington City Police at 435-986-1515 or 435-634-5730 or email the department with any tips.

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About the Author

Joseph Witham is a Utah Valley University graduate with a bachelor's degree in communication. He loves the Utah outdoors scene and is likely to be found camping or hiking in any one of the state's epic landscapes on a given weekend. He is equally passionate about writing and was published in various news media, including The Daily Herald in Utah County, before joining St. George News.

5 Comments

A cute little christmas gift for little Jimmy, the budding psychopath: a blowdart gun. I didn’t know they were putting out barbed darts now. Maybe parents will have to put down their smartphones and do some parenting, or perhaps every cat in the neighborhood will meet a terrible fate. What can ya do?

Why are cat owners such scofflaws. We all know most cats “somehow escape” and are lost when their owners are holding the door open and saying “see you in the morning”. They don’t care that the cat is using the neighbors yard as a toilet and to spray, or ripping apart the birds the neighbor is trying to attract.

Well shooting the cat is clearly wrong. But the irresponsible owner is just as much at fault. There are several Havahart cages that will work to capture the feral cats – an invasive species – for placing in an indoor shelter.

Cats are horribly destructive to vulnerable native wildlife. IMO, all pet cats should be kept indoor, and all ferals should be rounded up and euthanized. But it should be quickly and humanely. If whatever psycho with the dart gun wasn’t shooting cats he’d prob be shooting at song birds or something. Really is no excuse for it. Sounds like ur defending the “blowgunner” just bc of your cat hatred.

Did you not read what I wrote fully? “Well shooting the cat is clearly wrong.” And how does assigning some blame to an irresponsible owner translate to cat hatred, can you explain that part of your reasoning? Given you think all stray cats should be caught and euthanized it sounds like you yourself are just quibbling over the weapon that was used. Your post does not add up.